Your Southern Connection To All Things Alpaca

Who Buys Alpacas?

Alpaca breeders come from many walks of life. Increasingly, alpacas
are becoming an important source of income for many people. Entire
families are full-time alpaca breeders.

Young couples with children might own three or four alpacas and enjoy caring for them.

Retired couples, who have raised their kids, sold their business, and
retired to the country, are often owners. The family whose members
include a hand-spinner might own two or three animals for fiber
production. Several breeders are veterinarians who have found the
ownership of alpacas to be more rewarding than practicing veterinary
medicine. Many herds are owned by families where one spouse has a city
job, and the alpaca business is managed by the other on their acreage in
the suburbs or the country. A large number of breeders are working
couples who tend to their herd in the evening after work. There are even
city dwellers who have discovered the option of boarding (or
"agisting") alpacas, thereby giving them an operational alpaca operation
while still retaining an urban career. For all owners, alpacas offer a
great way to diversify their financial portfolio with a commodity that
is both rare and in demand worldwide.

There are few large ranches with over 500 alpacas, small ranches of
only two or three alpacas, and everything in between. The average alpaca
herd consists of about ten to twenty alpacas. Most herds start out
small and grow to the size that fits the breeder's ranch and financial
goals.

Almost all breeders are in business for the long haul; they believe
in the future of the industry. With the relatively small number of
alpacas currently available, there will be an extended and steady demand
for breeding stock to continue meeting the needs of our growing
industry for many years.

It is important to recognize that alpaca ownership has inherent
risks, as do all livestock and financial assets. You should talk to
breeders to familiarize yourself with the risks as well as the rewards
of alpaca ownership.